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A.—No. Ba.

36

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

No. 94. Lieut.-Colonel Moule to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram). Cambridge, 19th January, 1870. The following just arrived from Louis Hetit:— " I returned from Te Kuiti to-day, and I have hastened to send you this information. Native came in from the direction of that part of the country where Te Kooti is. His report is this —That Te Kooti and party are at a place called Okania, or Ilokau, near the Falls on the Waikato River, and he is engaged in building a pa; a great many Natives of those parts have joined him; and he is bent upon IVuranga. A number of the Ngatiraukawa have joined. I saw Manuwhiri and Rewi. These all remain neutral at present, as Te Kooti is likely to deprive them of their influence. I beg to state from the news that I have heard that now is the time to attack Te Kooti, if the Government make good all arrangements with all their troops at present at command. When 1 left this morning they at Te Kuiti had not decided what to do, but some propose to get up a force of about 200 and go towards the frontier, to a place called Kauwaeroa, to be on the look-out for the bolters of Te Kooti's party r, and I think they will take this step. They say now is the time to catch him and all his followers. I hear that Topia and Kemp and all their force have gone on to Taupo, and are with Poihipi. Rewi and Manuwhiri have sent messengers to Tapapa to demand of Hakaraia what his intentions are. On the return of these messengers they will decide what to do. The majority of the Natives at Te Kuiti and those parts seem inclined to settle Te Kooti, but the old men seem to hold out from giving their consent; they are in an excited state. A Native has been over to Wharepapa to demand the murderer, but some consent to give him up and others refuse, so that is the state of affairs at present. The Natives told mo this morning not to go away from home at the present; I may be wanted. The Natives say that the country from Cambridge to Te Kooti's Pa is quite an open plain, and carts can be driven through without any difficulty. " Otorohanga, 19th January, 1870." St. John Branigan, Esq., Commissioner, A.C.F. W. Moule, Inspector.

No. 95. Lieut.-Colonel Moule to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 19th January, 1870. Natives Te Whenua and Henare just arrived from Matamata, and report Te Kooti as still at Ta Papa, and that he talks of remaining there. Major Clare, Lieutenant Porter, and eighteen Volunteers arrived here last evening. W. Moule, Inspector, A.C.

No. 96. Mr. Searancke, R.M., to Hou. D. McLean. (Telegram.) Hamilton, 20th January, 1870. There are about 100 of the King's Natives digging gum between Hamilton and Ngaruawahia, and between 200 and 300 more scattered about the Waikato—shall I tell them to return to their own settlements ? They appear to be very quiet and well disposed, but the Europeans are alarmed about them. William N. Searancke, R.M.

No. 97. Lieut.-Colonel Moule to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram.) Hamilton, 20th January, 1870. Mr. Surveyor Campbell informs me that a Native reported to him yesterday as follows :— That Te Kooti has moved from Tapapa to Kurunui, a settlement near the Wairere Falls, and on the road to Tauranga, and that he intends building a pa there. There is a good dray-road from here to the Wairere, crossing almost opposite the Falls, and many suitable places for a post and establishing a depot for provisions, and from this pirt of the country there would be no difficulty in packing provisions, &c, to Patetere. W. Moule, Inspector, A.C

No. 98. Lieut.-Colonel Moule to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 20th January, 1870. The following letter just received by Native orderly from Taupo. I will detain the Native pending your instructions : —

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